The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced three individuals for internet fraud. Justice Maurin Oyetenu handed down the sentences on Monday following their guilty pleas to separate charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate.
The convicted persons—Emmanuel Okwa, Felix Akaninyene Tom, and Ubok Ubong Edet—were arrested for cyber-related offences and arraigned on charges bordering on internet fraud and cyber impersonation.
One of the charges revealed that Okwa impersonated American actress Jennifer Aniston on social media to defraud a victim of $1,500. He was sentenced to one year in prison or an option of a ₦2 million fine. He also forfeited his iPhone and Samsung devices to the Federal Government.
Tom and Edet were each sentenced to six months imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones—Techno Camon 18 Spark and Techno Pro 10 Spark—with proceeds to be paid into the EFCC’s Proceeds of Crime Account.
The sentences followed a review of the case by EFCC counsel Joshua Abolarin and pleas for leniency by defence lawyers Sampson Awuje, Metti Monday Ukpeh, and Nyebu Johnson.
